Improvement in paddle-wheels



'dnitml time WMM-3PM NICHOLAS THORN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 86,258, dated January 26, 1869.

INIPROVEMENT IN PADDLE-WHEELS.

The Schedule'referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may con/cern Be it known that I, NICHOLAS THORN, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paddle -Wyheels for propelling vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the drawings- A Figure 1 represents a plan view of the middle part of a vessel, with one of my improved paddle-wheels on each side.

Figure 2, the same, with a double set of paddle- Wheels.

Figure 3, an elevation of my paddle-wheel, showing that side which is averted from the vessel.

Figure 4 shows the side next to the vessel.

Figures 5 and 6 show the manner in which I propose to alter a common paddle-wheel into one of my improved construction. My invention consists in the improved construction of a paddle-wheel, 'as hereinafter described.

To enable otheis skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I dispense with the outside concentric rim on the paddle-wheel, which is the one of the large diameter, and construct my wheel with only one rim.

On this rim I fasten a number of triangular brackets, B B, as seen in gs. 3 and 4, where A represents the wheel, with its rim a, which may be made of one or more pieces.

The brackets B B are provided with `flanges, b b, for the purpose'of fastening the straight paddles O C to them.

The flanged side of the bracket forms an angle of from twenty-two and a half to forty-five degrees with a vertical line. Wh'en it ends the paddle touches the surface of the water.

The opposite bracket, which enters the water later, has its danged side constructed at such anangle that the straight paddle, which runs diagonally across the wheel, can be fastened to it without bending.

The best angle for the diagonal declination of the paddle from the centre line of the main shaft D, I have found to be about twenty-two and a half degrees.

I would also, under some circumstances, change these angles on a number of paddles opposite each other, in such parts of the wheel as correspond with the deadlevers on the engine, so as to relieve the engine of a part of its work, while it has to overcome the diiiiculties of passing` the centres or dead-leverage, and to make up the loss when the engine works With full lever.

I do not mean to confine myself to the position of the paddle-wheels as described and represented infigs. 3 and 4, but it may be more advantageous to exchange sides, so as to use the averted side, fig. 3, next to the vessel.

In the first case, the water is pushed from the boat, as the end of the paddle next to the vessel enters the water first, and this is advisable when the wheels are placed at the widest part ofthe vessel, as shown in iig. l`.

In the second case, the outside end of the paddle enters the water first, and pushes it toward the boat or vessel, and this I would prefer when the Wheels are placed behind the widest part of the vessel.

I also put two wheels together, with their corresponding sides, so that the paddles'form a very obtuse angle, onlytaking care that, at their junction, they form-the same angle with a perpendicular line, while at about forty-ve degrees, with one corner, and are gradually submerged, and, when they leave it, they form almost a right angle with the surface of the water.

In this manner, there is no shock created, and the oblique position of the paddle tends to lift the vessel, and augment its floating propensity.

The paddle pushes the water from itself, until it has left it completely,`with no chance of lifting` the least part of it.

' I am aware that it is not new to arrange the paddles of a paddle-Wheel obliquely on the periphery of the wheel; therefore I do not wish to claim such arrange ment; but p What I claim as new, and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rEhe brackets B, formed with flanges-b, extending at an angle from the bodies of the brackets, said brackets being secured to the rim c of wheel A, and arranged, as shown, for the support of the paddles C, as set forth.

2. lhe paddle-wheel, constructed as described, and consisting of the wheel A, with rim a', hanged brackets B b, and paddles C, arranged as set forth, all combined as herein shown and described, said wheels being placed upon the main shaft D, either as shown in fig. 1, or in the reverse position, or as represented in g. 2.

To the above, I have signed my name, this 23d day of July, 1868.

NICHOLAS THORN.

Witnesses:

J. W. HAMPTON, Jr., WM. A. WIEDERsHEIM. 

